Got some more 358 Frontier results. I went out today even though I shouldn't have.
My intent was simply to do some pressure testing today, conditions were terrible. Snow at times heavy, wind 22 gusting 30+ mph. Just for $hits & giggles I put an IPSC target out at 300 yds as an aiming point for firing over the chrono. I was laughing when I went down afterwards and saw that 50% of the shots were on paper. I only fired 1 round of each charge weight.
Results:
BULLET: 200 Grain Hornady SP
CASE: Winchester 358
PRIMER: CCI #34
POWDER: Ramshot TAC
CRIMP: Medium
CHRONOGRAPHED: 25 Feb 2012, ~640 feet ASL
CONDITIONS: Mod-Heavy snow, ~1 deg C
CHRONOGRAPH: ProChrono Digital
FIREARM: Ruger Frontier
COAL: Seated to cannelure
VELOCITY:
46 Grains - 2207 fps
47 - 2275
48 - 2290
48.5 - 2275
49 - 2302
49.5 - 2335
50 - 2355
50.5 - 2411 - Slightly sticky extraction
51 - 2437 - Slightly sticky extraction
51.5 - 2433 - Slightly sticky extraction
I also fired 3 rounds of my hunting load as a control which typically averages ~2325: 47.5 grains of H4895, averaged 2323 fps.
My conclusion is that I think I will stay with my H4895. Crunching the numbers, with a velocity of 2300, I get ~218 yard PBR. If I plug in 2400, I get a PBR of ~228 yards. Difference at 300 yds is 1.5 inches.
The only gains I can see with TAC is ~50-75 fps and better metering through measures. I hand weigh all my hunting loads so metering is moot for me, leaving only velocity gains as a pro for using TAC. I've read that TAC might be temp sensitive as well which detracts from its appeal for me. H4895 is very temp stable and gives me good accuracy, I can't see enough reason to switch to the TAC. I think I'll stick with my Re15 in the 350 and not bother testing the TAC, again because I feel the gain if any, would be very little.
